This post for road trip ideas has been sponsored by Albertsons. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This summer, I have criss-crossed all over the South. My friends, family and I checked out New Orleans via the highways and byways of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. We drove the Gulf Coast to the Flora-Bama Coast. Then we topped it off with a road trip through Alabama to the beaches of Florida. People, that's a lot of miles and even more smiles. In this post, we share our ideas, tips + printables for your next road trip.
BONUS: You get my personal Road Trip Playlist. You will either love it or be ready to jump out of the car. 🙂
We've got three things to help you have the best road trip ever: a checklist, a road trip game, and a playlist.
Summer Road Trip Checklist
Sure you could just hop in the car and wing it. However, I think we all know how that story ends. The key to a great road trip is to be prepared. Don't worry, you don't have to pack too much. A few essentials will make your trip more enjoyable.
First things first...don't forget drinks and snacks. Because trust me, no one wants to be in the car for hours with hangry people. We stopped at Albertsons to pick up Pepsi, Gatorade, Doritos and Lays. (You have to stay hydrated, and I'm pretty sure road trips don't happen without chips to munch on.)
Visit Albertsons for their huge Anniversary Sale between August 1st - 14th to grab your favorite road trip essentials. Don't miss it.
I loved the selection at the store, and everything was clean and well organized. Here is a list of some of the PepsiCo items on sale at Albertsons during their Anniversary Sale:
- Doritos, Nacho Cheese 9.75 oz bag
- Pepsi, 12 pack cans
- Tropicana 100% Pure Orange Juice, No Pulp, 59 fl oz.
- Lay's Classic Potato Chips 8oz bag
- Quaker Instant Oatmeal, Maple & Brown Sugar, 10 count
- Gatorade G Series, Lemon Lime, 32 fl oz.
- Quaker Life breakfast cereal, 13 oz. box
- Pure Leaf Unsweetened Iced Tea, 59 fl oz.
I purchased these road trip essentials at Albertsons, but you can also stock up and save at any of the Albertsons Companies family of stores including Safeway, ACME Markets, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Shaw's, Star Market, and Carrs/Safeway. Visit Albertsons.com to find a store near you and discover some fun meal-prep tips and recipe ideas!
Read about our Travel Adventures in: Dear Food Diary, New Orleans... We share where + what we ate while in New Orleans, plus some travel tips for the first time food adventurer.
Download our Free Printable Road Trip Checklist here.
Just click the link or the image. A new tab will open and you can save the file to print.
We have listed the basics you'll need for your next road trip in alphabetical order. Drinks, snacks, entertainment, games, emergency items and more.
If your daughter gets thirsty (ahem) and wants to stop every five minutes, you'll be ready. If someone drops their phone into the deepest, darkest recesses of your car, you'll be prepared. If you are ever in a car and your best friend lost their lip balm, you'll thank me for making this list.
(Packing lip balm > whiny friend.)
Summer Road Trip Entertainment
I love road trips. I would much rather hop in a car to get to my destination than a plane. Especially long trips. I love skipping the interstate highways and getting to the state roads. You see more this way. Way more. It may take a little longer to get there, but getting there is always more memorable.
Road trips now, it seems like everyone hops in the car and plugs in their phones. Everyone becomes silent, moody data monsters. We have a few ideas to get everyone to reconnect...to stop and smell the roses.
Check out our Favorite Food Truck Yums Here!
Getting everyone to "unplug" on the road trip:
- Before you leave, write down 10 topics of discussion or questions on pieces of paper. Fold them up and put them in a jar. Declare "NO PHONE ZONE" and pass the jar. I highly recommend keeping the topic starters light-hearted.
- Play traditional road games like I-Spy or the Alphabet Game.
- Download and print our fun Road Trippin' Search Game and giveaway an inexpensive prize (like a travel mug).
- Hand out actual books and magazines (to those that don't get carsick).
- Stop at the weird roadside stands and attractions. Gator farms, produce stands, the voodoo shack. All of it.
Play Road Trippin' Search Game
Just click the link or the image. A new tab will open and you can save the file to print.
This one will have the whole car rocking.
How to play: Print everyone a list and give them a pen or pencil. As each of these items are spotted, the person that spots and shouts it out first gets to check the item off of their list. (Everyone else has to mark it out.)
Once they are all filled, count up the points and write it in the orange circle. Highest point total WINS.
You can play this several times, just print out a few copies. Give actual prizes away (pack of gum, sweet snacks from Albertsons, travel mug, funny hat, cheesy sunglasses).
Summer Road Trip Playlist
Road trips don't happen without music. Whether you jam to whatever is on the radio, your favorite CD, or take turns DJ'ing the trip, music makes road trip magic.
Everyone has their opinion on music. That's part of the fun. Someone plays a song that they love and everyone else groans. Or that perfect summer sing-along comes on and the whole car comes alive.
And you've gotta have a little booty-shakin' music.
I'm about to share with you a small piece of my PERSONAL road trip playlist.
Download My Road Trip Playlist
Just click the link or the image. A new tab will open and you can save the file to print.
This playlist is very near and dear to my heart. You'll laugh, you'll cry. You'll sing, you'll dance.
You'll probably roll your eyes.
Prepare to enjoy.
Yes, I have a tendency to get on everyone's nerves with my playlist. What songs am I missing? Feel free to add your favorites in the comments section at the bottom of this post.
Don't forget to check out Albertsons Anniversary Sale this August 1st - 14th and save.
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